Historical Malpractice.

I saw Hidalgo, starring Viggo Mortenson, last week. I thought it was a fair adventure story. It lagged at times and there were some overt instances of political correctness, but on the whole it was generally entertaining.

Of course, it should not be surprising that the "Based on a True Story" claim is a complete fabrication. As the Long Riders Guild observes:

The 1953 musical, "Calamity Jane" starring Doris Day, was "only a movie." Yet the 2004 film "Hidalgo" starring Viggo Mortensen is advertised as being "based on a true story." The difference is that Calamity Jane really did have equestrian adventures, ride in Wyoming, and meet Buffalo Bill Cody - three things no one can prove Frank Hopkins ever did. We should be concerned when a happy-go-lucky Doris Day musical contains more fact than a mislabeled $80 million horse opera.

According to History News Network, even the "Circle of Fire" race is a complete fabrication.

All of this is not to say that the movie isn't worth watching. It is to say that the makers of the movie are doing a disservice to the idea of historical truth by lying about the historical bona fides of their flick.